Photographer's Note

The Festetics Palace is a Baroque palace located in the town of Keszthely, Zala county, Hungary. Its construction, started by Kristóf Festetics in 1745, lasted more than a century, during which the palace, built at first on the foundations of a ruined castle, was tripled in size, in two subsequent building campaigns, most recently in the 1880s, to designs by Viktor Rumpelmayer, living in Vienna. When Rumpelmayer died in 1885, the work was carried to completion by architects Gusztáv Haas and Miksa Paschkisch. The result is one of the three largest country houses in Hungary.

The counts Festetics were progressive landowners: Kristóf Festetics founded a hospital, Pál Festetics established a school in the town, and in 1797, Count György Festetics opened an Agricultural University, the Georgikon, Europe's first agricultural college, which is still in operation as a faculty of the University of Pannonia.

The library wing was built by György Festetics in 1799—1801, with guidance from András Fischer of the Vienna Academy. Execution was entrusted to local artisans. The dining room (now a concert hall) has stucco decor by Mátyás Vathner from the town of Pápa. Stonework was executed by the local mason József Zitterbart, locksmithing by a local master craftsman, József Dobrolán, tiled stoves by József Pittermann and inlaid floors and woodwork by master carpenter János Kerbl, who was also responsible for the fittings in the library. The book collection was made available to students of the Georgikon. The great book collection that remains in the castle is the only extensive aristocratic library that survives in Hungary. The result is that the central axis of the garden front is centered on one pavilion of the corps de logis, rather than on the prominent central tower of the extension built in the 1880s, with prominent mansard roofs and richly framed dormer windows typical of the neo-Baroque French Second Empire style, and neo-Renaissance woodwork in some of the interiors; on the entrance side facing the town the axis remains centered on the original baroque structure, now a flanking wing.

The elaborate expansion was carried out for Count Tasziló Festetics, who married Lady Mary Douglas-Hamilton (1850-1922) on 2 June 1880, and who entertained Edward, Prince of Wales in October 1885 and again in 1888, during his "incognito" Hungarian visits, accompanied by his great friend the Duke of Hamilton, Festetics' brother-in-law. Portraits of Festetics in tartans remain in the palace.
the Neo-Baroque garden gateway

Unlike the surrounding area, the palace was not damaged during World War II. The palace has housed an independent museum (Helikon Castle Museum) since 1974; it is visited by 200,000 people each year.

The parterres in which the palace stands were extended in the nineteenth century with a naturalistic landscape park in the English fashion. Open-air concerts are held on the grounds during the summer.

Hello Agnes,
Palace and gardens both look magnificent. I like the point of view with the raised flower bed giving the image depth and counterbalancing the onion dome over the entrance to the palace. The composition is pleasantly lit and has attractive natural colours and very good sharpness. Thanks also for the interesting and comprehensive note.

Hello Agnes
a lesson in composition this shot. Everything perfectly placed with graceful lead in lines and of course immaculate clarity and superb light management. It looks like a magnificent palace and you have captured it beautifully. Well done!

Fine panorama view of the Festetics Palace from the trim garden. The architecture is impressive clean lines, blending neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque, with the dominant central tower.
And I would enjoy attending a musical performance inside or out in the garden.

Good job,
Cheers,
Ray
PS: Noted you viewed my www.Flickr link. My internet photography work continues to evolve and currently writing articles (for free) for National Geographic keeps me out of trouble and busy; www.sierranevadageotourism.com. To find my articles enter my name in their "search box" - Ray Anderson

Hello Agnes,
This is a nicely composed shot using the bushes on each side to provide framing and placing the tower and flower planter off center. The lighting and colors are fine and the photo has excellent sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

Hi Agnes, very good view this interesting palace, very well composed and captured in this great and beautiful photography. An interesting image of a nice place with great clarity, depth and quality. A great job well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

HI Agnes,very interesting post,this palace is truly new for me and i never seen before,magnificent capture of this architechtural jewel,a large view made with the best detail to show us the best of this magic building,excellent exposure of the different light levels on the facades too.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Good morning Agnes,
Marvelous used theb favorable daylight, the palace seems in excelent clarity, especially with the prominent tower.
Well taken from the chosen POV, through the meticulousely cared garden.
Nice new day,
Ike

Your note informs the scene exceptionally well, and the composition I am especially impressed by. Off-setting the planter to the side makes the scene more interesting than if it had been placed symmetrically, in front of the spire.

Good afternoon.
An interesting article about the old palace with a history and description of ...
Good picture, contrast and perspective, nice place and architecture shown with details on the facade.
Nice place and the palace.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best.
Paja.

Hi Agnes. The good news is that the palace was not damaged during the war as what happened to great buildings in many other countries, particularly in Poland.Very elegant architecture and lovely gardens. I wonder how the image would have looked if you included more of either bush and excluded the other.Regards. Klaudio.